Corporate
Reporting, carbon accounting, targets and ESG.
National rules; location matters little.Sustainability consultants in London · firms and the London rules
Sustainability consultancy London
Sustainability consultancy in London is bought for two different jobs: corporate reporting and carbon work, and the energy and carbon documents London planning policy asks of new buildings.
UK SRS is an independent reference site. We have assessed no consultancy and publish no consultancy prices or rankings.
Two markets
What sustainability consultants in London are hired for
Most corporate sustainability work in London follows national rules, so the city matters mainly for meetings and site visits.
What is genuinely London-specific is planning: the London Plan asks major and referable schemes for energy, carbon and circular economy documents that a consultant usually prepares.
Read the detailed guidance and references
Searches for an environmental consultancy in London also find ecology, contaminated land and impact assessment firms, which is different work from sustainability consultancy.
For the national rules behind corporate briefs, start with how to choose a sustainability consultant.
The ESG version of the brief is on the ESG consultancy guide, and carbon on the carbon consultant guide.
A London buyer
Planning and buildings
Energy strategy, offset, be seen, whole-life carbon and circular economy.
London Plan 2021, Policies SI 2 and SI 7.The directory, A–Z
Sustainability consultancy London: firms with a London office
These are the firms from this site’s national directory whose own website showed a London office when we checked on 11 October 2026.
They are in alphabetical order, described only in their own words, and none has been assessed by this site.
Open the London list and the office pages
Firms with a London office, in alphabetical order
18 of 18 firms shown.
Alphabetical; the order means nothing.
- Anthesis Group
In its own words, summarised: A sustainability consulting group that describes guiding clients through an end-to-end sustainability journey.
- Arup
In its own words, summarised: Planning, design and engineering of the built environment and infrastructure.
- AtkinsRéalis
In its own words, summarised: Engineering and project delivery across how people are housed, connected, powered and protected.
- Bureau Veritas UK
In its own words, summarised: Testing, inspection and certification, with sustainability listed among its key services.
- Carbon Trust
In its own words, summarised: Climate transition work with businesses, governments, financial institutions and philanthropies, across and within sectors.
- ClimatePartner
In its own words, summarised: A platform for carbon accounting across Scopes 1 to 3, reports for SBTi and CSRD, climate projects and climate labels, with advisory support.
- Deloitte UK
In its own words, summarised: ESG advisory services: working with businesses on innovation, emissions reduction, resilience and trust.
- ERM
In its own words, summarised: Sustainability consulting and advisory: corporate sustainability, net zero and climate change, and renewable energy.
- EY UK
In its own words, summarised: EY-Parthenon sustainability and ESG strategy consulting: strategy, M&A, capital allocation and portfolio work.
- Inspired
In its own words, summarised: Energy buying and management alongside sustainability reporting and compliance support.
- KPMG UK
In its own words, summarised: Sustainability reporting and disclosure services across SECR, TCFD, ISSB and UK SRS and CSRD, carbon accounting and assurance readiness.
- Mott MacDonald
In its own words, summarised: An employee-owned engineering, management and development consultancy across transport, energy, water, buildings and infrastructure.
- Normative
In its own words, summarised: A carbon accounting platform for Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, with a named climate strategy adviser on each account.
- PwC UK
In its own words, summarised: A sustainability services page within its UK advisory offer.
- Ramboll UK
In its own words, summarised: An engineering, architecture and consultancy company working on sustainable solutions for governments and companies.
- Ricardo
In its own words, summarised: Engineering consultancy in propulsion, driveline and energy systems.
- SLR Consulting
In its own words, summarised: Sustainability advisory, digital and technical services, from corporate sustainability strategy and energy transition to climate resilience.
- WSP UK
In its own words, summarised: An engineering and professional services firm combining engineering, advisory and science-based work.
Each description was read on the firm’s own site on 1 October 2026.
This site has assessed none of these firms, has no commercial relationship with any of them, and lists them in no order of merit.
| Firm | Where its own site shows the London office |
|---|---|
| Anthesis Group | Farringdon; says its global headquarters is in London |
| Arup | Fitzroy Street, W1 |
| AtkinsRéalis | Nova North, Victoria |
| Bureau Veritas UK | Prescot Street, E1 |
| Carbon Trust | Blackfriars Road, SE1 |
| ClimatePartner | Borough High Street, SE1 |
| Deloitte UK | New Street Square, EC4 |
| ERM | Lists London among its UK offices |
| EY UK | A London office location page |
| Inspired | St Dunstan’s Hill, EC3 |
| KPMG UK | Canada Square, E14 |
| Mott MacDonald | Registered office, Fleet Place, EC4 |
| Normative | St Thomas Street, SE1 |
| PwC UK | Embankment Place, WC2 |
| Ramboll UK | Blackfriars Road, SE1; its UK head office |
| Ricardo | A London location page |
| SLR Consulting | Red Lion Square, WC1 |
| WSP UK | Chancery Lane, WC2 |
The national list, with the selection criteria tied to the law, is on the sustainability consulting firms page.
Listed, not rankedExplore
Module 01 / 04
Source
The firm’s own description.
Module 02 / 04
London
An office shown on its own site.
Module 03 / 04
Order
Alphabetical; the order means nothing.
Module 04 / 04
Excluded
No London office found on its own site.
London Plan Policy SI 2
The energy hierarchy: lean, clean, green, seen
London Plan Policy SI 2 says “Major development should be net zero-carbon”, following an energy hierarchy, according to Chapter 9 of the London Plan 2021.
Major development proposals should include a detailed energy strategy showing how the zero-carbon target will be met, under SI 2 B.
Read the detailed guidance and references
The energy strategy is what many London sustainability consultancies are hired to write, and the GLA’s energy planning guidance sets out how.
SI 2 E adds that major development should calculate and minimise unregulated emissions, from plant and equipment Building Regulations do not cover.
The Plan frames this as part of London becoming “a zero-carbon city by 2050”, in paragraph 9.2.1.
The four steps of the London Plan energy hierarchy
Step 1 of 4
Be clean
Exploit local energy resources, such as secondary heat, and supply energy efficiently and cleanly.
London Plan 2021, SI 2 A(2)Net zero-carbon major developmentExplore
Module 01 / 04
Be lean
Use less energy and manage demand.
Module 02 / 04
Be clean
Use local resources and supply energy cleanly.
Module 03 / 04
Be green
Produce, store and use renewables on site.
Module 04 / 04
Be seen
Monitor, verify and report performance.
Targets and payments
35% on site, then the offset fund
SI 2 C requires an on-site reduction of at least 35% beyond Building Regulations for major development, with 10% for homes and 15% for non-residential space from energy efficiency alone.
Any shortfall against zero carbon goes into the borough’s carbon offset fund, or is met off-site where delivery is certain, by agreement with the borough.
Read the detailed guidance and references
The GLA’s recommended price is £95 per tonne of carbon dioxide, and the contribution is counted over 30 years, according to its Carbon Offset Funds Guidance.
Boroughs may instead set their own price on local viability evidence, the Energy Assessment Guidance says, so check the borough’s figure.
The GLA describes major development as generally 10 or more homes or over 1,000 square metres of non-domestic floorspace.
The GLA’s worked figure, not a quote for any scheme; boroughs may set their own price.
Close the gap on site firstExplore
Module 01 / 04
Efficiency
10% homes, 15% non-residential.
Module 02 / 04
On site
At least 35% beyond Building Regulations.
Module 03 / 04
Shortfall
Paid to the borough or met off-site.
Module 04 / 04
Price
£95 a tonne over 30 years, or the borough’s own.
Monitoring
“Be seen”: five years of reporting after handover
The fourth step requires major developments to report actual operational energy performance for at least five years through the Mayor’s portal, according to the be seen guidance.
Reporting runs in three stages, planning, as built and in use, and responsibility sits with whoever legally owns the development at each stage.
Read the detailed guidance and references
A building bought or let after completion can therefore carry a reporting duty, which the GLA prefers to secure by a section 106 obligation, and a buyer’s adviser should pick it up.
Paragraph 9.2.10 of the Plan gives the same five-year period and mentions a Display Energy Certificate as one way to report.
- 1
Planning
Estimated performance as the design develops.
- 2
As built
Updated estimates when construction is complete.
- 3
In use
Actual energy data, yearly, for at least five years.
Referable applications
Whole life-cycle carbon and circular economy statements
Development referable to the Mayor should calculate whole life-cycle carbon emissions and show actions taken to reduce them, under Policy SI 2 F.
Referable applications should also submit a Circular Economy Statement under Policy SI 7 B, covering demolition materials, design for disassembly and waste.
Read the detailed guidance and references
The GLA’s whole life-cycle carbon guidance asks for an assessment at pre-application where relevant, at application and after construction, and encourages one on non-referable major schemes.
Both guidance documents were adopted in March 2022 by Mayoral Decision MD2962.
The GLA template still follows the first edition of the RICS methodology, although the second edition has been in effect since 1 July 2024, according to the GLA guidance page.
This is planning policy for London applications; nationally there is no legal requirement in England to assess whole-life carbon, as the carbon footprint consultancy guide explains.
Building Regulations energy changes from 2027 are on the Future Homes Standard page.
For schemes referred to the MayorExplore
Module 01 / 04
Pre-application
A first assessment where relevant.
Module 02 / 04
Application
The full assessment at RIBA stage 2/3.
Module 03 / 04
Post-construction
An update before occupation.
Module 04 / 04
Circular economy
A statement on materials and waste.
Before you call anyone
Does your scheme need London carbon statements?
Answer three questions and the panel lists the London Plan documents that apply, with the policy or GLA guidance behind each line.
It opens on a major non-residential scheme that is not referable, so the answers show before you choose anything.
Open the London Plan check
Does my London scheme need carbon statements?
Energy strategy
Major development should be net zero-carbon, and the application should include a detailed energy strategy showing how, through be lean, be clean, be green and be seen.
London Plan 2021, Policy SI 2 A and B
On-site reduction
At least 35 per cent beyond Building Regulations on site, of which 15 per cent should come from energy efficiency alone.
London Plan 2021, Policy SI 2 C
Carbon offset payment
Any shortfall against zero carbon is paid into the borough’s carbon offset fund, or met off-site by agreement; the GLA’s recommended price is £95 a tonne of CO2, counted over 30 years, unless the borough sets its own.
Policy SI 2 C–D; GLA Carbon Offset Funds Guidance 2022 ¶¶2.7–2.8
“Be seen” monitoring
Report energy performance at planning, as-built and in-use stages, and in use for at least five years through the Mayor’s portal.
London Plan ¶9.2.10; Be Seen Energy Monitoring guidance ¶1.2.2
Unregulated emissions
Calculate and minimise emissions from plant and equipment that Building Regulations do not cover.
London Plan 2021, Policy SI 2 E
Whole life-cycle carbon
Required only for referable applications, but the GLA encourages an assessment on non-referable major development.
GLA Whole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessments guidance (March 2022), summary
Plan status
The London Plan 2021 is the adopted plan; a draft replacement was out to consultation from 16 July to 15 October 2026, with adoption expected in early 2028.
GLA, draft London Plan announcement
Covers London Plan 2021 Policies SI 2 and SI 7 and GLA guidance only, as read on 11 October 2026; it is not planning advice.
Nothing you choose is stored or sent.
Three questionsExplore
Module 01 / 03
Scale
Major development or not.
Module 02 / 03
Referral
Referable to the Mayor or not.
Module 03 / 03
Use
Homes, non-residential or mixed.
Status
The London Plan is being replaced
The Mayor published a draft new London Plan on 16 July 2026 and consulted on it until 15 October 2026, according to the Mayor’s announcement.
The GLA expects adoption in early 2028 after an Examination in Public, so the 2021 policies above remain the adopted ones until then.
Read the detailed guidance and references
The announcement says the draft sets “a consistent approach across London in several key areas, such as energy efficiency”, so expect the targets to change.
Ask a consultant which version of the policy its advice assumes, and whether a long project could be decided under the new plan.
- 2 March 2021London Plan 2021 publishedFull statutory weight as part of the development plan.MD2962 ¶1.1
- 1 July 2024RICS WLCA 2nd edition in effectThe GLA template still uses the first edition.GLA WLC guidance page
Adopted until replacedExplore
Module 01 / 04
2021 Plan
The adopted plan today.
Module 02 / 04
Draft 2026
Published 16 July 2026.
Module 03 / 04
Consultation
Closes 15 October 2026.
Module 04 / 04
Adoption
Expected early 2028.
London public bodies
How London boroughs buy consultancy
London boroughs and other public bodies often buy sustainability advice through a framework rather than a full tender.
The London Borough of Merton, for example, published a call-off under ESPO’s 500_23 framework in 2025 for a plan to decarbonise its procured services.
Read the detailed guidance and references
The frameworks, their lots and who may use them are compared on the sustainability consultancy framework guide.
Suppliers to central government may also need a plan under PPN 006.
Framework, then call-offExplore
Module 01 / 04
Framework
A pre-tendered supplier list.
Module 02 / 04
Call-off
Direct award or further competition.
Module 03 / 04
Publish
The award appears on Contracts Finder.
Module 04 / 04
Deliver
A plan, strategy or study.
Due diligence
Sustainability consultancy London: what to ask
For a planning brief, ask which London Plan version and which borough offset price the advice assumes, and who will report “be seen” data after handover.
For a corporate brief, ask what will actually be done in London and what can be done anywhere.
Read the detailed guidance and references
Ask whether the firm earns anything from equipment, energy or offsets it recommends.
Under the FCA’s PS26/19, UK SRS is comply or explain for companies in UKLR 6, 14, 15, 16 and 22 from 2027, so a London proposal that calls it mandatory overstates it.
What this page does not do
It ranks no firm, quotes no price, gives no planning advice, and does not present uksrs.org.uk as a London consultancy.
Test the proposalExplore
Module 01 / 04
Policy
Which version of the London Plan?
Module 02 / 04
Borough
Which offset price and local policies?
Module 03 / 04
Stages
Who reports after handover?
Module 04 / 04
Independence
Any income from what is recommended?
Illustrative brief · no consultancy assessed
A worked brief: a London office scheme going to planning
Establish whether the scheme is major and whether it is referable, then brief one consultant for the energy strategy and, if needed, the whole-life carbon and circular economy statements.
For the measurement side, see carbon footprint consultancy.
View the workflow diagram
- 1
Scale
Major, and referable or not.
- 2
Documents
Energy strategy, then WLC and circular economy if referable.
- 3
After handover
Who reports be seen data for five years.
Each date has a different meaning
The London dates, in order
Check whether each date is a publication, an adoption, a consultation or the GLA’s expectation.
- 2 March 202101
- March 202202
- 1 July 202403
- 16 July 202604
- 15 October 202605
- Early 2028 (expected)06
A suggested delivery sequence
From the brief to the handover
This is an editorial buying sequence, not a statutory timetable or a promise about how long the work takes.
- 01 / Job01
Job
Decide whether the brief is corporate or planning work. - 02 / Rules02
Rules
For planning work, confirm major and referable status with the borough. - 03 / Shortlist03
Shortlist
Read firms’ own pages and ask for comparable examples. - 04 / Proposal04
Proposal
Compare scope, days, assumptions and independence. - 05 / Handover05
Handover
Agree who owns the models and who reports after completion.
Frequently asked
Sustainability consultancy in London, answered
How do I find a sustainability consultancy in London?
Start from what you need, because London buyers usually want one of two things: corporate work such as reporting and carbon accounting, or planning work on a building, such as an energy strategy or whole life-cycle carbon assessment.
The A–Z list on this page shows firms whose own website shows a London office, described only in their own words.
Do I need a London-based sustainability consultant?
Location matters for site work and planning work, where someone attends meetings with the borough or the GLA or visits buildings.
It matters much less for reporting, where the data comes from your systems.
What is a London Plan energy strategy?
Policy SI 2 says major development should be net zero-carbon and should include a detailed energy strategy showing how, following the energy hierarchy: be lean, be clean, be green and be seen.
What is the carbon offset payment in London?
Where a major development cannot reach zero carbon on site after at least a 35% on-site reduction, the shortfall is paid into the borough’s carbon offset fund or met off-site.
The GLA recommends £95 per tonne of CO2, counted over 30 years, unless the borough has set its own price.
What is “be seen” monitoring?
The fourth step of the energy hierarchy: major developments report energy performance at planning, as-built and in-use stages, and in use for at least five years, through the Mayor’s portal.
Who needs a whole life-cycle carbon assessment in London?
Applications referable to the Mayor, under London Plan Policy SI 2 F, using the GLA template; the GLA encourages it on other major applications.
There is no national legal requirement in England to assess whole-life carbon.
What is a circular economy statement?
A document required from referable applications under London Plan Policy SI 7 B, showing how demolition materials will be reused or recycled, how the design reduces material demand and enables disassembly, and how waste will be managed.
Is the London Plan changing?
A draft replacement London Plan was published on 16 July 2026 and consulted on until 15 October 2026; the GLA expects adoption in early 2028 after an Examination in Public.
Until then the London Plan 2021 is the adopted plan.
Is UK SRS mandatory for London companies?
No. Under the FCA’s PS26/19, UK SRS applies on a comply or explain basis to companies listed in UKLR 6, 14, 15, 16 and 22, for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027, wherever they are based.
Is UK SRS a London consultancy?
No. UK SRS is an independent reference site with no consultants, no clients and no prices; it has assessed none of the firms listed and ranks none of them.
Sources
Primary sources
Every figure, date and status on this page traces to the instrument’s owner.
Secondary commentary is never the source for a number.
Checked against 31 sources fromGreater London AuthorityMayor of LondonRICSContracts FinderFinancial Conduct AuthorityAnthesis Group
- Greater London AuthorityThe London Plan 2021, Chapter 9, Policies SI 2 and SI 7
Net zero-carbon major development, the energy hierarchy, 35% on site, offset funds, whole life-cycle carbon and circular economy statements.
- Greater London AuthorityEnergy planning guidance
The GLA’s index of energy, offset, be seen and whole-life carbon guidance.
- Greater London AuthorityEnergy Assessment Guidance (June 2022), §6.4
The cash-in-lieu calculation and the recommended offset price.
- Greater London AuthorityCarbon Offset Funds Guidance 2022, ¶¶2.7–2.8
£95 per tonne, over 30 years: £2,850 per tonne to be offset.
- Greater London Authority‘Be seen’ energy monitoring guidance (2021), ¶1.2.2
Monitoring and reporting for at least five years, in three stages.
- Greater London AuthorityWhole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessments guidance
Referable applications; RICS first-edition methodology for the GLA template.
- Greater London AuthorityWhole Life-Cycle Carbon Assessments LPG (March 2022), ¶2.2.1
Pre-application, application and post-construction stages.
- Mayor of LondonMD2962: London Plan Guidance, whole life carbon and circular economy
Both guidance documents adopted in March 2022.
- Mayor of LondonMayor publishes streamlined draft London Plan
Consultation 16 July to 15 October 2026; adoption expected in early 2028.
- Greater London AuthorityThe next London Plan
The review timetable.
- RICSWhole life carbon assessment standard, 2nd edition in effect
In effect from 1 July 2024.
- Contracts FinderLondon Borough of Merton: decarbonisation consultant via ESPO 500_23
A London borough buying through a framework, 2025.
- Financial Conduct AuthorityPS26/19
UK SRS comply or explain for UKLR 6, 14, 15, 16 and 22 from 1 January 2027.
- Anthesis GroupAnthesis Group: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- ArupArup: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- AtkinsRéalisAtkinsRéalis: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- Bureau Veritas UKBureau Veritas UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- Carbon TrustCarbon Trust: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- ClimatePartnerClimatePartner: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- Deloitte UKDeloitte UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- ERMERM: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- EY UKEY UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- InspiredInspired: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- KPMG UKKPMG UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- Mott MacDonaldMott MacDonald: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- NormativeNormative: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- PwC UKPwC UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- Ramboll UKRamboll UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- RicardoRicardo: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- SLR ConsultingSLR Consulting: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
- WSP UKWSP UK: London office page
Read 11 October 2026 to confirm a London office; not an assessment.
Continue reading
Read next
Directory
Sustainability consulting firms
Selection criteria tied to the law, and the national A–Z directory.
Choosing
How to choose a sustainability consultant
The process, the brief and the questions.
Procurement
Sustainability consultancy frameworks
How public bodies buy through ESPO, GCA and NEPO frameworks.
Measurement
Carbon footprint consultancy
Which footprint each rule asks for, including whole-life carbon.
Buildings
Future Homes and Buildings Standard
Part L for new work in England from 24 March 2027.
ESG
ESG consultancy
Governance and social subjects, with their own advisers.